I feel that the best shopping experience is unplanned retail therapy! I love stumbling upon irresistable bargains. I often come back empty handed when I make the attempt to go shopping!
I always tell my friends that I moonlight as a "Sales Girl", as I love to sniff out good bargains! I have heard rave reviews about the factory outlets in Japan, therefore I decided to head to Tosu Premium Outlet. As expected I came back empty handed, perhaps you might have better luck than me!
Getting There
Address
8-1, Yayoigaoka,
Tosu-Shi, Saga, Japan
841-0005
Opening Hours
Jan - Dec (10:00-20:00)
Closed: Once a year, on the third Thursday in Feb
Showing posts with label Hakata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hakata. Show all posts
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Hita
If you have a daughter, you might like to bring her to Hita during
I visited Hita because I wanted to see the impressive doll collection in Mameda(the central area of town). Even though it was after the Girls' festival, you can still view the dolls in many of the souvenir shops around town.
In Japan the citizens are strong advocates for Road & Traffic Safety. In the different towns, the message maybe the same but the means of promotion is often different! While visiting Hita, an added bonus was that I managed to catch sight of a vintage car parade! The Road Safety Flags given out to residents and tourists served two purposes 1)Promotion of Traffic Safety 2)For them to support the drivers when they drove past. I am not too sure if this parade is an annual affair, but I caught sight of it on 10 April at around 10.30am. If you would like to catch the parade, do give the tourist centre a ring to confirm the details before heading there.
Vintage Car Parade
*Beer drinkers might like to head to the Sapporo Beer factory. There is a guided tour for visitors followed by a tasting session. Kanpai!
You might like to visit Hita during these periods:
1)Gion Festival (First Sunday after July 20th)
2)Tenryo Festival (Third weekend in October)
3)From July to November, catch sight of fishermen erecting bamboo fish traps in the Mikuma river. A must eat during this season is the grilled Ayu fishes.
Getting There
From JR Hakata Station, board the Yufuin-no-Mori Express to JR Hita station (approx 78mins) I have taken a number of bullet and ordinary trains, but this was the first time that the stewardess came round with props!
I visited Hita because I wanted to see the impressive doll collection in Mameda(the central area of town). Even though it was after the Girls' festival, you can still view the dolls in many of the souvenir shops around town.
In Japan the citizens are strong advocates for Road & Traffic Safety. In the different towns, the message maybe the same but the means of promotion is often different! While visiting Hita, an added bonus was that I managed to catch sight of a vintage car parade! The Road Safety Flags given out to residents and tourists served two purposes 1)Promotion of Traffic Safety 2)For them to support the drivers when they drove past. I am not too sure if this parade is an annual affair, but I caught sight of it on 10 April at around 10.30am. If you would like to catch the parade, do give the tourist centre a ring to confirm the details before heading there.
Vintage Car Parade
*Beer drinkers might like to head to the Sapporo Beer factory. There is a guided tour for visitors followed by a tasting session. Kanpai!
You might like to visit Hita during these periods:
1)Gion Festival (First Sunday after July 20th)
2)Tenryo Festival (Third weekend in October)
3)From July to November, catch sight of fishermen erecting bamboo fish traps in the Mikuma river. A must eat during this season is the grilled Ayu fishes.
Getting There
From JR Hakata Station, board the Yufuin-no-Mori Express to JR Hita station (approx 78mins) I have taken a number of bullet and ordinary trains, but this was the first time that the stewardess came round with props!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Arita - Day Trip from Hakata
Arita is well known around the world for its beautiful fine porcelain made with Kaolin clay. An annual pottery fair is held in Arita from 29 April to 5 May, therefore pottery connoisseurs are highly encouraged to visit the fair. Ceramic Artworks are sold at a discount and pay a visit to one of the many workshops in the area. They are a treasure trove for ceramic pieces, that are not exported to your home country.
I visited the city, a day after the fair and it felt like a "ghost town". Most of the shops and workshops were shut. Here are some pictures around town:
I visited Tozan Shrine, which is famous for its porcelain archway and other items made of porcelain. In other shrines, these items are usually made of stone.
Containers all ready for export!
Other spots to visit -
1) Ri Sam Pei Monument - from the above, you will have a scenic view over the houses and kilns of Arita
2) Big Ginko Tree
3) Tombai walls in the back roads - they are built using bricks dismantled from the traditional Japanese Kiln
4) Kyushu Ceramic Museum ( it is closed on Mondays and admission is free)
5) The Kilns
6) If you have extra time, hop to Takeo Onsen, where you can soak your tired body in one of the traditional baths.
Getting there-
From JR line from Hakata Station and alight at Kami Arita Station.
I visited the city, a day after the fair and it felt like a "ghost town". Most of the shops and workshops were shut. Here are some pictures around town:
I visited Tozan Shrine, which is famous for its porcelain archway and other items made of porcelain. In other shrines, these items are usually made of stone.
Containers all ready for export!
Other spots to visit -
1) Ri Sam Pei Monument - from the above, you will have a scenic view over the houses and kilns of Arita
2) Big Ginko Tree
3) Tombai walls in the back roads - they are built using bricks dismantled from the traditional Japanese Kiln
4) Kyushu Ceramic Museum ( it is closed on Mondays and admission is free)
5) The Kilns
6) If you have extra time, hop to Takeo Onsen, where you can soak your tired body in one of the traditional baths.
Getting there-
From JR line from Hakata Station and alight at Kami Arita Station.
Nagasaki - Day Trip from Hakata
Whenever you think of Hiroshima, you will think of Nagasaki. Since I visited Hiroshima before, therefore this time round I decided to visit Nagasaki. Explore the beauty of the city with a day pass(which allows you to have unlimited ride on the street cars), a map and a comfy pair of walking boots. Not much planning is need, as there are directional signs to all the tourist locations. In-fact a less structured itinerary will bring with it a few surprises at every nook and corner!
Currently with many countries stocking up on Nuclear Arms, it has increased the Nuclear Threats in the region. Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are painful reminders of the devastating effect it can cause to mankind! When contestants are asked what are their wishes are for the world, during the Miss Universe Pageant. A standard answer will always include "World Peace". Cliche as it sounds but as the saying goes "MAKE LOVE AND NOT WAR".
Nagasaki Peace Park (Heiwa Koen) -
At the South, you can find the "Fountain of Peace", the jets are set in a shape of a pair of Angel's wings and it is a dedication to World Peace. This was constructed in August, 1969, as a prayer for the repose of the souls of the many atomic bomb victims who died searching for water (Text extracted from Wikipedia)
Nations from around the world, have sent many peace structures to be placed in the Peace Symbol Zone in the park
At the North end of park you will find the 10m high Peace Statue
The statue's right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons while the extended left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face symbolizes divine grace and the gently closed eyes offer a prayer for the repose of the bomb victims' souls. The folded right leg and extended left leg signify both meditation and the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the world. Installed in front of the statue is a black marble vault containing the names of the atomic bomb victims and survivors who died in subsequent years (Text extracted from Wikipedia)
Walk along Dutch slope and enjoy the western architecture lining that street, visit Oura Catholic Church dedicated to the 26 Christians crucified in 1597 when the Japanese Authorities were clamping down on Christianity.
Glover Garden
The elegant garden is like a cultural theme park, consisting of a cluster of European style houses. Some of which have been reassembled from other parts of the city. The garden is on a hilly gradient, therefore visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of Nagasaki. Due to the pull of gravity, the best way to explore the garden is to take the escalator right to the top and walk down hill! Exit the garden through Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Museum, which houses a display of the floats used in the Kunchi Matsuri.
Megane Bashi aka Spectacle Bridge
Around Nagasaki city, there are a couple of stone hearts and two of them can be found in Glover Garden. It is an old wives tale that you will find true love when you touch one of the stones, or that something positive will happen, if you find both! As tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so if you are single and happen to be there. Try touching the stone and who knows your knight in shining may appear! And Gentlemen, why not find both stones with your sweetheart and propose to her there. May your love for each other always be embedded in stone and not weathered easily
<3 Another stone heart can be found along the river banks.
Other sightseeing spots in Nagasaki include:
1)One Pillar Torii - It is at Sanno Jinja, the blast blew off one leg of the Torii gate to the shrine (Free)
2)Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
3)Nagasaki Museum of History & Folklore (Free and it has activities for the kids)
4) Fukusai-ji Kannon - It a majestic structure of a turtle carrying an 18m high figure of the Goddess Kannon on its back
5) Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
6) Suwa Jinja - The venue of Kunchi Matsuri (7-9 Oct)
7) Atomic Bomb Hypo Centre
While walking around the city, I caught sight of some lovely drawing -
You might also be interested in -
Hiroshima
Getting there -
I took a day trip from Hakata and caught the Bullet train from JR Hakata Station to JR Nagasaki Station
Currently with many countries stocking up on Nuclear Arms, it has increased the Nuclear Threats in the region. Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are painful reminders of the devastating effect it can cause to mankind! When contestants are asked what are their wishes are for the world, during the Miss Universe Pageant. A standard answer will always include "World Peace". Cliche as it sounds but as the saying goes "MAKE LOVE AND NOT WAR".
Nagasaki Peace Park (Heiwa Koen) -
At the South, you can find the "Fountain of Peace", the jets are set in a shape of a pair of Angel's wings and it is a dedication to World Peace. This was constructed in August, 1969, as a prayer for the repose of the souls of the many atomic bomb victims who died searching for water (Text extracted from Wikipedia)
Nations from around the world, have sent many peace structures to be placed in the Peace Symbol Zone in the park
At the North end of park you will find the 10m high Peace Statue
The statue's right hand points to the threat of nuclear weapons while the extended left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The mild face symbolizes divine grace and the gently closed eyes offer a prayer for the repose of the bomb victims' souls. The folded right leg and extended left leg signify both meditation and the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the world. Installed in front of the statue is a black marble vault containing the names of the atomic bomb victims and survivors who died in subsequent years (Text extracted from Wikipedia)
Walk along Dutch slope and enjoy the western architecture lining that street, visit Oura Catholic Church dedicated to the 26 Christians crucified in 1597 when the Japanese Authorities were clamping down on Christianity.
Glover Garden
The elegant garden is like a cultural theme park, consisting of a cluster of European style houses. Some of which have been reassembled from other parts of the city. The garden is on a hilly gradient, therefore visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of Nagasaki. Due to the pull of gravity, the best way to explore the garden is to take the escalator right to the top and walk down hill! Exit the garden through Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Museum, which houses a display of the floats used in the Kunchi Matsuri.
Megane Bashi aka Spectacle Bridge
Around Nagasaki city, there are a couple of stone hearts and two of them can be found in Glover Garden. It is an old wives tale that you will find true love when you touch one of the stones, or that something positive will happen, if you find both! As tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so if you are single and happen to be there. Try touching the stone and who knows your knight in shining may appear! And Gentlemen, why not find both stones with your sweetheart and propose to her there. May your love for each other always be embedded in stone and not weathered easily
<3 Another stone heart can be found along the river banks.
Other sightseeing spots in Nagasaki include:
1)One Pillar Torii - It is at Sanno Jinja, the blast blew off one leg of the Torii gate to the shrine (Free)
2)Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
3)Nagasaki Museum of History & Folklore (Free and it has activities for the kids)
4) Fukusai-ji Kannon - It a majestic structure of a turtle carrying an 18m high figure of the Goddess Kannon on its back
5) Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
6) Suwa Jinja - The venue of Kunchi Matsuri (7-9 Oct)
7) Atomic Bomb Hypo Centre
While walking around the city, I caught sight of some lovely drawing -
You might also be interested in -
Hiroshima
Getting there -
I took a day trip from Hakata and caught the Bullet train from JR Hakata Station to JR Nagasaki Station
Nokonoshima Island Park
Take a day trip out of Fukuoka to visit Nokonoshima Island Park, a family friendly park! With the bright blue sky, well manicured plots of colourful seasonal flowers and Hakata Bay as the backdrop. It is a visual feast for the senses. Perhaps because this park is off the mainland, therefore when I visited it, I didn't see hordes of tourists. On the contrary, this park is popular with the locals as Bungalows and Cottages are available for rental. The park is pretty big, so set aside at least 11/2-2 to cover its grounds. Satisfy your hunger pangs at any of the restaurants or lay a mat on the grass and have a picnic! I enjoyed strolling through Omoide-dori as it is a replicate of an old town. If your child loves animals, there is a "mini zoo" there too.
The rental cottages -
Getting there
Board the subway in Hakata to Meinohama Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus to Nokonoshima Ferry Terminal. You can either walk to the park or take the bus bound for the Park.
It takes about 30-45mins to walk there and here are snapshots of the view along the way -
Signing off this post, with pics of Cherry Blossoms. The smell of Cherry Blossoms reminded me Almonds
The rental cottages -
Getting there
Board the subway in Hakata to Meinohama Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus to Nokonoshima Ferry Terminal. You can either walk to the park or take the bus bound for the Park.
It takes about 30-45mins to walk there and here are snapshots of the view along the way -
Signing off this post, with pics of Cherry Blossoms. The smell of Cherry Blossoms reminded me Almonds
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